The list of the best selling albums in Canada is based on Music Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Recording Industry Association) certifications and Nielsen Soundscan figures. Music Canada has been certifying recordings since 1975. SoundScan began tracking sales data for Billboard in Canada in 1995.
The best-selling album in Canada is Michael Jackson’s Thriller which sold over 2.7 million copies (according to Billboard, 2.4 million sold by 1986; 350,000 since 1995, according to Soundscan). Some publications suggest that the Thriller has already crossed the three million mark. Accourding to Soundscan 2017 report Shania Twain’s Come on Over is the best selling album in Canada since SoundScan began tracking sales.
Contents:
Certification levels
Certifications for albums released in Canada depend upon their release date. In July 2017, Music Canada updated the Album Award guidelines to include Track Equivalent Album (TEA) and Stream Equivalent Album (SEA) units toward Certification. 1,500 on-demand audio streams = 10 track downloads = 1 unit toward Certification.
| Date | Gold | Platinum | Diamond |
| Before May 1, 2008 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Since May 1,2008 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 800,000 |
Note: in the early 90s, a rule was introduced according to which in albums consisting of several discs (double, triple, box sets), each disc is counted. That is, a double album needs not 50,000 copies to become Gold, but 25,000, a triple – 16,667, a box set of 10 discs – 5,000.
List of best-selling albums in Canada
| № | Artist | Album | Certification / source | Sales | Year release |
| 1 | MICHAEL JACKSON | THRILLER | 2x Diamond + 1x Gold / Soundscan / Billboard 2,4M(1984) | 2,750,000 | 1982 |
| 2 | FLEETWOOD MAC | RUMOURS | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 2,511,000 | 1977 |
| 3 | ALANIS MORISSETTE | JAGGED LITTLE PILL | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 2,442,000 | 1995 |
| 4 | PINK FLOYD | DARK SIDE OF THE MOON | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 2,350,000 | 1973 |
| 5 | MEAT LOAF | BAT OUT OF HELL | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 2,145,000 | 1977 |
| 6 | EAGLES | THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975 | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 2,128,000 | 1976 |
| 7 | SHANIA TWAIN | COME ON OVER | 2x Diamond | 2,000,000 | 1997 |
| 8 | SHANIA TWAIN | THE WOMAN IN ME | 2x Diamond | 2,000,000 | 1995 |
| 9 | LED ZEPPELIN | LED ZEPPELIN IV | 2x Diamond | 2,000,000 | 1971 |
| 10 | ADELE | 21 | 2x Diamond | 1,600,000 | 2011 |
| 11 | METALLICA | METALLICA | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,500,000 | 1991 |
| 12 | GUNS N` ROSES | APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,422,000 | 1987 |
| 13 | PINK FLOYD | THE WALL | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,360,000 | 1979 |
| 14 | AC/DC | BACK IN BLACK | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,331,000 | 1980 |
| 15 | THE BEATLES | ABBEY ROAD | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,306,000 | 1969 |
| 16 | ABBA | GOLD – GREATEST HITS | 1x Diamond + 3x Platinum | 1,300,000 | 1992 |
| 17 | SOUNDTRACK | DIRTY DANCING | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,233,000 | 1987 |
| 18 | BRYAN ADAMS | RECKLESS | 1x Diamond + 1x Platinum / Soundscan | 1,226,000 | 1984 |
| 19 | GREEN DAY | DOOKIE | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,220,000 | 1994 |
| 20 | THE BEATLES | 1 | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,215,000 | 2000 |
| 21 | U2 | THE JOSHUA TREE | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,203,000 | 1987 |
| 22 | DIRE STRAITS | BROTHERS IN ARMS | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,165,000 | 1985 |
| 23 | ERIC CLAPTON | UNPLUGGED | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,156,000 | 1992 |
| 24 | SUPERTRAMP | CRIME OF THE CENTURY | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,132,000 | 1974 |
| 25 | ANDREA BOCELLI | ROMANZA | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,130,000 | 1997 |
| 26 | SHANIA TWAIN | UP! | 2x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,129,000 | 2002 |
| 27 | SUPERTRAMP | BREAKFAST IN AMERICA | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,129,000 | 1979 |
| 28 | ADELE | 25 | 1x Diamond / Soundcan sales 2015 – 2016 | 1,126,000 | 2015 |
| 29 | NIRVANA | NEVERMIND | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,122,000 | 1991 |
| 30 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | BORN IN THE U.S.A. | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,072,000 | 1984 |
| 31 | THE TRAGICALLY HIP | UP TO HERE | 1x Diamond / Soundscan | 1,050,000 | 1989 |
| 32 | THE BEATLES | SGT. PEPPER`S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND | 8x Platinum / Soundscan | 1,040,000 | 1967 |
| 33 | AVRIL LAVIGNE | LET GO | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 2002 |
| 34 | EMINEM | THE EMINEM SHOW | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 2002 |
| 35 | NORAH JONES | COME AWAY WITH ME | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 2002 |
| 36 | BACKSTREET BOYS | MILLENNIUM | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1999 |
| 37 | BRITNEY SPEARS | …BABY ONE MORE TIME | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1999 |
| 38 | CELINE DION | ALL THE WAY…A DECADE OF SONG | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1999 |
| 39 | RICKY MARTIN | RICKY MARTIN | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1999 |
| 40 | SANTANA | SUPERNATURAL | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1999 |
| 41 | CELINE DION | THESE ARE SPECIAL TIMES | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1998 |
| 42 | AQUA | AQUARIUM | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 43 | BACKSTREET BOYS | BACKSTREET`S BACK | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 44 | BIG SHINY TUNES SERIES | BIG SHINY TUNES 2 | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 45 | CELINE DION | LET`S TALK ABOUT LOVE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 46 | OUR LADY PEACE | CLUMSY | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 47 | SARAH MCLACHLAN | SURFACING | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 48 | SAVAGE GARDEN | SAVAGE GARDEN | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 49 | SOUNDTRACK | TITANIC | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 50 | SPICE GIRLS | SPICEWORLD | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1997 |
| 51 | BACKSTREET BOYS | BACKSTREET BOYS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1996 |
| 52 | CELINE DION | FALLING INTO YOU | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1996 |
| 53 | SPICE GIRLS | SPICE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1996 |
| 54 | AMANDA MARSHALL | AMANDA MARSHALL | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1995 |
| 55 | NO DOUBT | TRAGIC KINGDOM | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1995 |
| 56 | BON JOVI | CROSS ROAD | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1994 |
| 57 | GARTH BROOKS | THE HITS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1994 |
| 58 | HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH | CRACKED REAR VIEW | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1994 |
| 59 | SOUNDTRACK | THE LION KING | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1994 |
| 60 | ACE OF BASE | HAPPY NATION/THE SIGN | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1993 |
| 61 | AEROSMITH | GET A GRIP | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1993 |
| 62 | CELINE DION | THE COLOUR OF MY LOVE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1993 |
| 63 | BARENAKED LADIES | GORDON | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1992 |
| 64 | BILLY RAY CYRUS | SOME GAVE ALL | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1992 |
| 65 | CELINE DION | CELINE DION | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1992 |
| 66 | THE TRAGICALLY HIP | FULLY COMPLETELY | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1992 |
| 67 | WHITNEY HOUSTON | THE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK) | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1992 |
| 68 | BRYAN ADAMS | WAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1991 |
| 69 | GUNS N` ROSES | USE YOUR ILLUSION I | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1991 |
| 70 | THE TRAGICALLY HIP | ROAD APPLES | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1991 |
| 71 | TOM COCHRANE | MAD MAD WORLD | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1991 |
| 72 | U2 | ACHTUNG BABY | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1991 |
| 73 | ALANNAH MYLES | ALANNAH MYLES | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1990 |
| 74 | MILLI VANILLI | GIRL YOU KNOW IT`S TRUE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1989 |
| 75 | NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK | HANGIN` TOUGH | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1988 |
| 76 | SOUNDTRACK | COCKTAIL | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1988 |
| 77 | DEF LEPPARD | HYSTERIA | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1987 |
| 78 | GEORGE MICHAEL | FAITH | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1987 |
| 79 | INXS | KICK | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1987 |
| 80 | BON JOVI | SLIPPERY WHEN WET | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1986 |
| 81 | MADONNA | TRUE BLUE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1986 |
| 82 | COREY HART | BOY IN THE BOX | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1985 |
| 83 | PHIL COLLINS | NO JACKET REQUIRED | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1985 |
| 84 | WHITNEY HOUSTON | WHITNEY HOUSTON | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1985 |
| 85 | MADONNA | LIKE A VIRGIN | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1984 |
| 86 | CULTURE CLUB | COLOUR BY NUMBERS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1983 |
| 87 | HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS | SPORTS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1983 |
| 88 | LIONEL RICHIE | CAN`T SLOW DOWN | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1983 |
| 89 | ZZ TOP | ELIMINATOR | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1983 |
| 90 | PHIL COLLINS | FACE VALUE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1981 |
| 91 | KENNY ROGERS | KENNY ROGERS` GREATEST HITS | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1980 |
| 92 | SOUNDTRACK | GREASE | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1978 |
| 93 | STEVE MILLER BAND | GREATEST HITS 1974-1978 | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1978 |
| 94 | BEE GEES | SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SOUNDTRACK) | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1977 |
| 95 | BOSTON | BOSTON | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1976 |
| 96 | EAGLES | HOTEL CALIFORNIA | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1976 |
| 97 | ELTON JOHN | ELTON JOHN`S GREATEST HITS (1974) | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1974 |
| 98 | LED ZEPPELIN | LED ZEPPELIN I | 1x Diamond | 1,000,000 | 1969 |
| 99 | MICHAEL BUBLÉ | CHRISTMAS | 1x Diamond / Soundcan decade-end list | 968,000 | 2011 |
| 100 | EMINEM | THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP | 8x Platinum / Soundscan | 941,000 | 2000 |
| 101 | NIRVANA | MTV UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK | 9x Platinum | 900,000 | 1994 |
| 102 | MEAT LOAF | BAT OUT OF HELL II: BACK INTO HELL | 9x Platinum | 900,000 | 1993 |
| 103 | GUNS N` ROSES | USE YOUR ILLUSION II | 9x Platinum | 900,000 | 1991 |
| 104 | SOUNDTRACK | FLASHDANCE | 9x Platinum | 900,000 | 1983 |
| 105 | LED ZEPPELIN | LED ZEPPELIN II | 9x Platinum | 900,000 | 1969 |
| 106 | QUEEN | GREATEST HITS I | 3x Platinum + Soundscan | 862,000 | 1981 |
| 107 | COUNTING CROWS | AUGUST & EVERYTHING AFTER | 7x Platinum / Soundscan | 831,000 | 1993 |
| 108 | MICHAEL BUBLÉ | IT`S TIME | 6x Platinum / Soundscan | 823,000 | 2005 |
| 109 | ED SHEERAN | DIVIDE | 1x Diamond | 800,000 | 2017 |
| 110 | ED SHEERAN | X | 1x Diamond | 800,000 | 2014 |
| 111 | NICKELBACK | SILVER SIDE UP | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 2001 |
| 112 | ENYA | A DAY WITHOUT RAIN | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 2000 |
| 113 | BIG SHINY TUNES SERIES | BIG SHINY TUNES 4 | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1999 |
| 114 | BIG SHINY TUNES SERIES | BIG SHINY TUNES 3 | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1998 |
| 115 | THE OFFSPRING | AMERICANA | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1998 |
| 116 | MATCHBOX TWENTY | YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1996 |
| 117 | COLLECTIVE SOUL | COLLECTIVE SOUL | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1995 |
| 118 | JEWEL | PIECES OF YOU | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1995 |
| 119 | OASIS | (WHAT`S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY? | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1995 |
| 120 | AEROSMITH | BIG ONES | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1994 |
| 121 | TLC | CRAZYSEXYCOOL | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1994 |
| 122 | MC HAMMER | PLEASE HAMMER DON`T HURT `EM | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1990 |
| 123 | ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER | THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – HIGHLIGHTS (CANADIAN CAST) | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1989 |
| 124 | ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER | THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (CANADIAN CAST) | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1989 |
| 125 | CYNDI LAUPER | SHE`S SO UNUSUAL | 8x Platinum | 800,000 | 1983 |
Best-selling albums in Canada of the Nielsen SoundScan era
Sales from 1995 to December 2014
| № | Artist | Album | Sales |
| 1 | SHANIA TWAIN | COME ON OVER | 1,948,000 |
| 2 | CELINE DION | LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE | 1,492,000 |
| 3 | ADELE | 21 | 1,489,000 |
| 4 | VARIOUS ARTISTS | BIG SHINY TUNES 2 | 1,233,000 |
| 5 | THE BEATLES | 1 | 1,231,000 |
| 6 | SHANIA TWAIN | UP! | 1,134,000 |
| 7 | ANDREA BOCELLI | ROMANZA | 1,133,000 |
| 8 | AQUA | AQUARIUM | 1,093,000 |
| 9 | SARAH MCLACHLAN | SURFACING | 1,078,000 |
| 10 | BACKSTREET BOYS | MILLENNIUM | 1,075,000 |
See also. Best selling albums by country:
Asia & Africa:
Europe:
North & South America: